Welcome to our first edition of Victorian Chamber News for 2022. We know that staff shortages, supply chain issues, isolation requirements, density limits and lack of accessibility to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) continue to cause difficulty and stress and the Victorian Chamber team is working hard to ensure your voices are heard and practical solutions can be found.

If you were lucky enough to get in a break over the school holidays, you would have noticed the crippling effect that Covid-19 is having on our small businesses across the state.

It’s the report that you helped us create, and one that might well sharpen the focus on what Victoria needs to do to be the best state to operate a business in. I’m very proud of to release the Cost and Ease of Doing Business in Victoria Taskforce Report.

After much debate the Morrison Government will not continue with legislation that included provisions to make discrimination on the grounds of religious belief or activity unlawful in a range of areas (including employment and education).

Great news this week with several positive developments to set us on a cracking pace for our state’s COVID-19 recovery.

‘Building back business’ and ‘building for our future’ are the cornerstones of the Victorian Chamber’s submission to the Australian Government ahead of the 2022-23 Federal Budget.

Yesterday we celebrated International Women’s Day, a global event marking the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and amplifying the call for diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Habits can be hard to break and I’m sure we all felt a bit uncertain last week as office workers started to return after the better part of two years working from home.

The Chamber is working overtime to ensure business remains our number one priority. As we have done right through the pandemic, we are continuing to advocate strongly on behalf of our members with all levels of government in what will be a critical year with both federal and state elections.

It’s hard to describe what an incredible feeling it is to finally be able to move around our great state again and enjoy all Regional Victoria has to offer, whether it’s our beautiful towns, beaches, lakes, rivers, wineries, golf courses or restaurants.

The Victorian Chamber is pleased to launch our Federal Election Platform, which pitches three big ideas that will benefit Victorian businesses and jobs, secure the progress of our state, and drive economic development into the future.

Supporting Victoria’s visitor economy, building a new interstate freight terminal and boosting clean energy industries to create jobs and build a thriving manufacturing sector are the key pillars of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Federal Election Platform.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s announcement of a landmark collaboration between State Governments to decarbonise logistics along the eastern seaboard.

The Victorian Chamber’s advocacy has helped secure significant wins in the Federal Budget with increased funding for skills and training, commitments for two Victorian freight terminals and a much-needed boost for regional tourism.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the 2022-23 Federal Budget which will help support Victoria’s economic recovery.

It’s Grand Prix week in Victoria and the excitement and energy is palpable. It will be extra special in 2022 as we remember the dramatic circumstances under which it was cancelled in 2020 when the reality of COVID-19 hit us like a wrecking ball. How far we have come since then as Victorian business continues to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.